The Villa Langmatt Museum is to be preserved

The future of the art and living museum Villa Langmatt in Baden AG is to be secured. The city pays for the recurring repairs to the villa, while the Langmatt Foundation secures the museum's operation by selling pictures. The corresponding referendum is scheduled for 2023.

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The Langmatt Museum in Baden is unique in the Swiss museum landscape. The art nouveau villa of the industrialist couple Sidney and Jenny Brown-Sulzer houses an exquisite art collection by French impressionists. It was put together at the beginning of the 20th century with a lot of personal passion. The unmistakable charm of the villa lies in the presentation of outstanding images from art history in historical living rooms, surrounded by an idyllic park, says Markus Stegmann, director of the Langmatt Museum, describing his “workplace”.

The Langmatt Foundation announced in a statement that the cantonal protected property must be renovated and that the operation must be put on a financially sound basis. While the foundation is restructuring its operating finances and thus ensuring operation and maintenance, the city makes recurring contributions to the repair of the property with the help of the canton and third parties.

Clear distribution of responsibility
With this partnership approach, the important cultural institution could be led into the future. The strategy motto is: "Jewel for everyone." The aim of the strategy is to preserve the Langmatt as a unique institution and a living witness of industrial, social, collection and architectural history. The core of the strategy is a clear distribution of responsibility between the city and the foundation: As the founder and sole heir, the city makes a substantial contribution to the renovation of the property, which is estimated at around 17.2 million francs (+/- 25%). As the operator of the museum, the foundation is restructuring its operating finances on a sustainable basis.

At its meeting on June 3, 2020, the residents' council of the city of Baden decided to implement the “Langmatt Future” strategy in order to secure the future of the museum. In other words: the foundation takes over the lead for the repair and the costs of the planning up to a construction project. In order to carry out the construction project, the city council and the foundation council plan to found a stock corporation in which the city will hold a substantial share. It should raise the additional financial resources to cover the operating costs.

Sale of pictures for the necessary return on investment
For the long-term renovation of the foundation's capital, which was too small from the start, a targeted sale of one to three works is necessary, which, however, does not affect the core of the collection, emphasize the project managers. From the proceeds of around 40 million Swiss francs, the foundation generates the capital income it needs to secure its operations in the long term. “A step that is painful, but without any alternative, that will secure the future of the museum,” emphasizes Lukas Breunig-Hollinger, President of the Langmatt Foundation. "The Langmatt will be preserved as a historical ensemble, as a place of Baden's identity and as a living witness to the history of industry, collections and architecture," says Markus Stegmann, director of the Langmatt Museum. With its regional roots, the Langmatt will strengthen its international presence in the future.

Two-year construction planning phase
The main innovations include the year-round museum opening, an improvement in the entrance area with cash register, shop and cloakroom, a lift for barrier-free access and a filigree pavilion for events. The next stage is a two-year construction planning phase with the aim of specifying the cost accuracy of the repair. This is a key requirement for the required referendum, which is expected in 2023. If the template is approved, the next step is to sell the pictures. Repairs to the museum could begin in 2024, and Langmatt could reopen in 2026. ■

Text: Philipp Dreyer / Quelle: Stiftung Langmatt / Bilder: zVg